ACC basketball power rankings: How high does Syracuse climb after 2-0 week?

Syracuse, N.Y. ― Three ACC teams enjoyed 2-0 records this past week.

Of course one was North Carolina, which now leads the conference by two games. The other two were Syracuse and Virginia; two teams that bounced back from big losses the previous Saturday.

After losing to North Carolina 103-67 on Jan. 13, Syracuse went on the road to beat Pittsburgh and then stunned Miami with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on Saturday.

Virginia absorbed a 66-47 loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 13, but the Cavaliers notched a pair of wins over Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech this past week.

Every other team in the ACC lost at least once last week. Even Duke lost at home (gasp).

All the turmoil is making it more and more difficult to gauge where certain teams should be in the ACC Power Rankings.

1. North Carolina

Record: 15-3 (7-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

Last week’s results: Win 86-70 vs. Louisville; Win 76-66 at Boston College

This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Wake Forest; Saturday at Florida State

Why No. 1? The Tar Heels are two games clear of N.C. State, Florida State and Wake Forest; all of whom are 5-2 in the league standings. North Carolina continues to play excellent defense. The Tar Heels have won their last eight games by double-digits.

2. Duke

Record: 13-4 (4-2)

Last week’s ranking: 2

Last week’s results: Loss 80-76 to Pittsburgh

This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Louisville; Saturday vs. Clemson

Why No. 2? The Blue Devils lost their only game this week and even though it was at home to struggling Pittsburgh, the teams right behind Duke didn’t do enough this past week to move ahead of the Blue Devils. There is some concern with injuries to Jeremy Roach and Mark Mitchell.

3. Wake Forest

Record: 13-5 (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 3

Last week’s results: Loss 83-76 at N.C. State; Win 90-65 at Louisville

This week’s schedule: Monday at North Carolina

Why No. 3? Wake Forest split a pair of games last week. It’s hard to punish a team for a road loss. The Demon Deacons will have a huge opportunity to tighten the conference race and move up in next week’s Power Rankings with their Monday trip to Chapel Hill.

4. Clemson

Record: 13-5 (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 4

Last week’s results: Loss 93-90 2OT vs. Georgia Tech; Win 78-67 at Florida State

This week’s schedule: Saturday at Duke

Why No. 4? When you figure out Clemson, just let us know. The Tigers lose at home to Georgia Tech, but win on the road at red-hot Florida State. Clemson gets a week off before traveling to Duke to face the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

5. Syracuse

Record: 13-5 (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Last week’s results: Win 69-58 at Pittsburgh; Win 72-69 vs. Miami

This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Florida State; Saturday vs. N.C. State

Why No. 5? Syracuse’s 2-0 week lifts the Orange up three spots. Why did SU settle here? Well, Miami was No. 5 last week and went 0-2 this past week. Also, N.C. State and Virginia Tech both went 1-1. So fifth seemed to make sense.

6. Virginia

Record: 13-5 (4-3)

Last week’s ranking: 10

Last week’s result: Win 65-57 vs. Virginia Tech; Win 75-66 at Georgia Tech

This week’s schedule: Wednesday vs. NC State; Saturday at Louisville

Why No. 6? Virginia’s 2-0 week lifts the Cavaliers up four spots. That’s partly due to a couple of nice wins over Virginia Tech and at N.C. State, but also because the teams immediately ahead of the Cavaliers all had at least one stumble.

7. Virginia Tech

Record: 11-7 (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 7

Last week’s results: Loss 65-57 at Virginia; Win 84-78 at N.C. State

This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Boston College; Saturday vs. Georgia Tech

Why No. 7? Virginia Tech held steady because of its road win at N.C. State, which had been ranked just ahead of the Hokies. Hunter Cattoor, who had missed time due to an injury, looks like he’s back with 19 points in the win at State.

8. North Carolina State

Record: 13-5 (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 6

Last week’s results: Win 83-76 vs. Wake Forest; Loss 84-78 vs. Wake Forest

This week’s schedule: Wednesday at Virginia; Saturday at Syracuse

Why No. 8? The Wolfpack got a really nice win over Wake Forest, but couldn’t finish off the week at home on Saturday and dropped one to Virginia Tech. It’s just a one spot drop and the Wolfpack is still 5-2 in the league. A big week looms, though, with a pair of difficult road games.

9. Florida State

Record: 11-7 (5-2)

Last week’s ranking: 9

Last week’s results: Win 84-75 at Miami; Loss 78-67 to Clemson

This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Syracuse; Saturday at North Carolina

Why No. 9? Florida State had its five-game winning streak come to an end with a home loss to Clemson, but the Seminoles still have to be ranked ahead of Miami after beating the Hurricanes on their home court earlier in the week.

10. Miami

Record: 12-6 (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: 5

Last week’s results: Loss 84-75 to Florida State; Loss 72-69 at Syracuse

This week’s schedule: Wednesday at Notre Dame; Saturday vs. Pittsburgh

Why No. 10? After going 0-2 this past week, the Hurricanes have now lost four of their last five games. There is concern over the status of all-league center Norchad Omier, who missed the Syracuse game with an “injury to a lower extremity,’' per an NHL-styled statement from the school.

11. Pittsburgh

Record: 11-7 (2-5)

Last week’s ranking: 11

Last week’s result: Loss 69-58 to Syracuse; Win 80-76 at Duke

This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Georgia Tech; Saturday at Miami

Why No. 11? Yes, Pittsburgh staged the week’s most stunning victory with its win at Duke. But the Panthers also looked awful in their home loss to Syracuse. Pitt is still just 2-5 in the ACC, so we decided to wait another week before moving the Panthers up.

12. Boston College

Record: 11-7 (2-5)

Last week’s ranking: 12

Last week’s results: Win 63-59 vs. Notre Dame; Loss 76-66 vs. North Carolina

This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Virginia Tech; Saturday at Notre Dame

Why No. 12? The Eagles stay ahead of Notre Dame thanks to a win over Irish, but a chance to take a big leap up the rankings was missed with a home loss to UNC.

13. Georgia Tech

Record: 9-9 (2-5)

Last week’s ranking: 14

Last week’s results: Win 93-90 2OT at Clemson; Loss 75-66 vs. Virginia

This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh; Saturday at Virginia Tech

Why No. 13? The Yellow Jackets’ Naithan George scored 20 points, including a pair of 3-pointers late in regulation, to grab a double-overtime win at Clemson.

14. Notre Dame

Record: 7-12 (2-6)

Last week’s ranking: 13

Last week’s results: Loss 63-59 at Boston College

This week’s schedule: Wednesday vs. Miami; Saturday vs. Boston College

Why No. 14? Freshman Markus Burton scored 19 points, but it wasn’t quite enough as Notre Dame lost a close one at Boston College. That was Notre Dame’s only game of the week.

15. Louisville

Record: 6-12 (1-6)

Last week’s ranking: 15

Last week’s results: Loss 86-70 vs. North Carolina; Loss 90-65 at Wake Forest

This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Duke; Saturday vs. Virginia

Why No. 15? The Cardinals allowed Wake Forest to go 18-for-35 from 3-point range in Saturday’s loss to the Deacons.

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